Chris Benoit is one of the best wrestlers in the
world, he has it all high-flying, brawling ability,
and he is a very good technician. He is big in
Canada, Japan and Mexico, and now he is making his
mark in the USA.

The beginning

Chris Benoit was born in Montreal, Canada in 1967 and
moved west to Edmonton with his family some 12 years
later. Here he discovered professional wrestling,
namely Stampede Wrestling, owned by the legendary Stu
Hart.
Benoit was fascinated by the skills and charisma of a
certain wrestler, The Dynamite Kid, who inspired
Benoit to become a pro. wrestler. Benoit attended
many wrestling shows, he started talking to the
wrestlers, and then working with the ring crew, which
in the summer of 1985 led to Stu inviting Benoit down
to train in Calgary.
Benoit made his pro. debut later in December 1985 in
Calgary, where Benoit and Rich Patterson defeated
Karl Moffat and Mike Hammer. In 1986 Benoit teamed
with Ben Bassarab to capture the Stampede Tag Team
Championship from Wayne Farris (Honky Tonk Man) and
Ron Starr. The young team quickly lost the belts, but
together with Keith Hart, Benoit once again became
tag team champion.
In the end of 1986, Benoit moved to Japan to enhance
his skills, he stayed there for almost nine months.
Benoit had his first match in New Japan in January
1987. As the autumn of 1987 beckoned, Benoit's
business relationship with New Japan came to an end,
therefore he returned to Calgary and Stampede
Wrestling.
Benoit started teaming with Johnny Smith, who later
turned on Benoit, and the two started feuding over
the British Commonwealth mid-heavyweight title. Chris
won the title four times between March 1988 and July
1989. Benoit also won the tag team titles with Lance
Idol, and later Beef Wellington. Benoit also teamed
with Davey Boy Smith to take on his idol Dynamite Kid
and Johnny Smith. It all came to an end, in December
1989, when Stampede went under.

Japan, Mexico and Germany

When Stampede folded, Benoit got a call from New
Japan, who offered him a job. Benoit returned to New
Japan, where he marked his return at the Tokyo Dome
show, February 10th, 1990. Benoit became the masked
Pegasus Kid, who became a proverbial thorn in Jushin
Thunder Liger's side, Benoit once did a power bomb of
the top rope on Liger. Before a live crowd of more
than 60,000 people, Benoit and partner Naoki Sano
defeated Jushin Liger and Akira Nogami.
Six months later Benoit defeated Jushin Thunder Liger
for the IWGP Jr. heavyweight title, in doing so,
Benoit became only the second westerner to hold the
title (Owen Hart was the first). Benoit lost the
title back to Liger, some 3 months later. April 7,
1991, Benoit crashes to Liger in a mask vs. mask
match. In 1994, Benoit came close to winning the
title again in a tournament, but fell in the final to
Norio Honaga.
In March 1991, Chris moved to Mexico and the
Universal Wrestling Alliance, where he captured the
WWF light heavyweight title from Vilano III, in the
meantime Benoit and partner David Taylor also had
time to win the CWA World Tag Team title from Miles
Zrno and Franz Schumann in Bremen, Germany. Vilano
III won the WWF light heavyweight title back 18
months later. Benoit returned to New Japan, and by
that he and David Tayler had to vacate the CWA World
Tag Team title.
Benoit competed for the first time for a US-based
organisation at June 16th, 1992, when he teamed with
one of his partners from Stampede, Beef Wellington,
in the NWA World tag team tournament hosted by WCW.
Benoit and Wellington was defeated by the team of
Jushin Thunder Liger and Brian Pillman. Benoit once
again returned to New Japan.
WCW was very satisfied with Benoit's performance, so
they signed a one year contract with him, which
started in January 1993, but Benoit's commitments
with New Japan took priority over WCW. Perhaps his
commitment with New Japan was the reason, that Benoit
was mostly used as a jobber.
But 1993 wasn't that bad for Benoit between May 25
and June 15 the Top of the Super Junior took place.
It is a tournament where the wrestlers are divided in
two groups, fighting against everybody in the group,
the wrestlers get points for victory and draw, the
two best from each group advance to the semifinals,
where it turns into a knock out tournament. The
Pegasus Kid advanced to the semifinals, where he
received a bye since his opponent, Jushin Liger was
injured, In the final Benoit took on El Samurai, who
couldn't stop the fresh Benoit, who became the winner
of the Top of the Super Junior 1993.
1994, April 16th in Tokyo' Sumo Hall, The Super J
Cup, was arranged, a one night knock out tournament
to find the best light heavyweight wrestler. The Wild
Pegasus Chris Benoit (When Pegasus Kid lost his mask,
he called himself Wild Pegasus) defeated the Black
Tiger to advance to the semifinals, here waited the
Super Delfin, who Benoit was able to overcome. In the
final waited no other than the Great Sasuke, and in a
classic match, Benoit came out victorious. Benoit has
said, that it undoubtedly was the hardest night of
his wrestling career.
In 1994, Benoit wanted to wrestle in the USA, the WWF
offered him a spot, which he accepted, but it didn't
live up to his expectations, since he was mostly used
as a jobber. Benoit then started wrestling in the
independent scene, and he was immediately offered a
place at ECW, which he gladly accepted, but Benoit
also wrestled in New Japan during his stint with ECW.
During his stint with New Japan and other promotions,
Benoit wrestled every superstar of the light
heavyweights, and he proved, that he is one of the
best.

ECW

November 19th, 1994, Benoit became the Crippler Chris
Benoit in ECW, when he hurt Sabu so bad, that Sabu
suffered a fractured vertebrae and bruising of the
spinal chord. Benoit later joined forces with Dean
Malenko in ECW to go after the tag team titles.
Benoit certainly lived up to his name, The Crippler,
when he made a run-in, February 4th, 1995, where he
powerbombed Sabu off the top turnbuckle, onto and
through a table, with Rocco Rock lying on the table,
because of the incident Rocco Rock had to use a
wheelchair.
February 25th, Benoit and Malenko defeated ECW tag
team champions, Sabu and the Tasmaniac to get the
gold. Benoit and Malenko also performed a serious
number on the Public Enemy, especially the wheelchair
bound Rocco Rock, they clotheslined him into the
guard rail at approximately 15 miles per hour.
Unbelievable, but as Benoit has said about ECW, "it
is unlike any other promotion in the US, You can,
within reason, do whatever you want to do". Together
with Dean Malenko and Shane Douglas, Benoit formed
the Thriple Threat, which with it's different
formations have caused havoc in the ECW.
April 8th, 1995, The Three Way Dance between
Tasmaniac/Sabu (Replaced by Rick Steiner since Sabu
no-showed), Public Enemy and Benoit/Malenko. Public
Enemy regained the titles that evening, but if it
hadn't been for Tasmaniac and Rick Steiner, I am not
so sure of the result. Soon after Benoit and Malenko
went to where The Big Boys Play, WCW.
Benoit entered the Best of Super Junior '95, which
took place between June 23 and July 13. The Best of
the Super Junior is the Top of the Super Junior with
a new name. This time the Wild Pegasus also advanced
to the semifinals, and here waited the Black Tiger,
but he couldn't stop Benoit, who wouldn't let 1995 go
by without winning a tournament. In the final Benoit
took on Shinjiro Ohtani, the two fought a great
match, but after nearly 20 minutes of action, Benoit
stood in the centre of the ring as the winner of the
Best of the Super Junior 1995.

WCW

In September Benoit and Malenko joined the WCW, they
started teaming like in ECW, but the booking
committee soon found out that these two guys had even
better potential as single wrestlers.
Benoit did get a minor push, one month after he
signed. Benoit got a shot at the United States
Heavyweight Champion, Kensuke Sasaki. Benoit lost the
match, but he showed his talents in the match.
Unfortunately Benoit's much deserved push didn't last
long. Then he joined the Four Horsemen, which at the
time consisted of Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Brian
Pillman and Benoit. Benoit and Pillman started
teaming, but it didn't last long, as Pillman started
a feud with Kevin Sullivan and his Dungeon of Doom.
When Pillman suddenly left WCW, they stood with an
unsettled feud, so Benoit took Pillman's place. Woman who was the Four
Horsemen's valet, soon stood by Benoit's side.
The feud with Sullivan got underway during BattleBowl
96, Benoit and Sullivan was paired, and none of them
was happy about it. So Benoit and Sullivan used most
of their time fighting each other than Public Enemy.
Benoit and Sullivan have had many memorable matches,
at the Great American Bash, they fought in the men's
bathroom, they used trash cans, tables and chairs.
Benoit won the match after suplexing Kevin Sullivan
off the top of a table.
But Benoit and Sullivan continued their feud at Bash
at the Beach 1996, where the team of Sullivan and the
Giant defeated Benoit and, fellow Four Horseman
member, Arn Anderson.
Benoit the went on to Hog Wild, where he had to face
his former ECW partner, Dean Malenko, the match is
considered to be one of the most technically
brilliant matches in WCW history, the match went to a
30 minute draw, and the 5 minutes overtime also went
to a draw, before Benoit got the win in the second
overtime.
The Dungeon of Doom was still a thorn in the side of
Benoit, the Giant beat him at Clash of the Champions,
and when Benoit had a rematch with Sullivan at a
house show, the Dungeon attacked Benoit in the
bathroom, where they beat him up.
In the start of 1997, Benoit and Sullivan still
feuded, the feud got hotter because Woman and
Sullivan are married, and WCW played it out like
Benoit had made her see, that Sullivan was not the
right for her, and thereby taken her away from
Sullivan. Sullivan then countered by bringing in Miss
Jacqueline, who became a thorn in Woman's side.
Benoit defeated Sullivan again at Clash of Champions
and at SuperBrawl VII in a San Francisco Death Match,
where Benoit performed a splash from the top rope
onto Sullivan, who laid on a table in the ring, Miss
Jacqueline also took a bump, when she covered
Sullivan with her own body.
At Spring Stampede 1997, Benoit and Malenko again had
to go against each other, this time for the US title.
It looked like Benoit was on his road to victory,
when Kevin Sullivan interfered.
Sullivan and Benoit was apparently not finished with
each other, and with the help of the Dungeon of Doom,
Sullivan had the upper hand, until he disappeared in
May. Benoit still feuded with the Dungeon, and at
Slamboree he lost a Death Match to Meng. This was the
setup for a return Death Match between these two
athletes at the Great American Bash, where Benoit was
victorious, using the Crippler CrossFace. After the
match, they were both carried out on a stretcher.
Kevin Sullivan returned in June, and it looks like
Benoit and Sullivan will go the final round, at the
Bash at the Beach 97 in a retirement match, in my
point of view this match can go only one way, and of
course Benoit was victorious.
The 4 Horsemen got a new member, when Arn Anderson
retired, and it was Curt Hennig, who took Arn's spot.
Hennig turned on the Horsemen at Fall Brawl, which
will result in a long feud with Hennig and the nWo
for the Horsemen. The feud turned dramatically, when
Flair in a phone call at Nitro (09/29/97) disbanded
the Horsemen until his return. Benoit was scheduled
to meet Hennig at Halloween Havoc for the US Title,
but instead it became Flair vs Hennig, which leaves
Benoit out in the cold again. I expect Benoit to win
the TV Title very soon, and thereby take Arn
Anderson's spot as the Enforcer of the Horsemen.
Benoit nearly won the TV Title from Saturn on a
recent Nitro, but instead the Title bout turned into
a new feud with Raven's Nest, who has attacked Benoit
on several occasions. This feud is very much like the
feud Benoit had with the Dungeon of Doom, where he
has to go through all the members to get to the boss,
Raven.
Steve McMichael has also been involved in the feud
and so has Dean Malenko, could a reunion of the
Horsemen be far away?
At Souled Out, Benoit and Raven finally had to slug
it out in an Anything Goes Match, which showed that
both of them can be extreme. After a lot of moves,
which involved a chair, Benoit was able to put Raven
in the Crippler CrossFace, Raven wouldn't give up,
but Benoit was declared the winner when Raven passed
out. The Flock then entered the ring to finish the
job that Raven couldn't, but Dean Malenko came to the
rescue of the Crippler. Since then Benoit and Malenko
have had some great tag team matches against Eddy
Guerrero and Chris Jericho.
Lately the WCW has realised what potential Benoit
have and they have put him in the run for the WCW US
Title, Benoit faced Diamond Dallas Page for the title
at Thursday Thunder 02/05/98, but he wasn't able to
get the duke due to interference from Raven and his
Flock. Benoit got a shot at the US Title at
SuperBrawl, but came out with the short end of the
stick. Again the WCW just use Benoit to get other
wrestlers over, what a waste.
The WCW will have a Three Way Dance for the US Title
between DDP, Raven and Benoit. The events leading up
to the event happened at Nitro, March 2, where Raven
and his Flock attacked DDP, when Benoit came to the
rescue, but DDP hit Benoit, and a slugfest erupted,
but when Raven re-entered the ring they attacked him
in union.
In a tag team match featuring Benoit and DDP vs Raven
and Saturn things turned ugly, Benoit had Raven in
the Crippler CrossFace, when DDP used his Diamond
Cutter on Saturn, they hit Benoit, who got mad and
started attacking DDP, which brought more heat to the
Three Way Dance. At Uncensored in an ECW style match
the three opponents clashed, but Diamond Dallas Page
where able to win the match, after the match Benoit
helped DDP to his feet. The following night Benoit
lost to Raven in a great brawl, this will put Benoit
out of the title picture, and it was even worse when
Benoit jobbed to Scott Norton at Thursday Thunder,
what the WCW wants with Benoit I don't know.
Benoit got a TV Title match against Booker T at
Nitro, March 23, it was an exciting match where both
wrestlers showed what they are capable of, the time
limit expires, and Booker could walk away with the
gold, the next week we saw the two wrestlers go at it
again, but with the same result, can the WCW not come
up with anything better? Benoit saved Booker T from a
chair shot by La Parka, Booker offered his hand to
Benoit, who responded with a slap, way to go.
Benoit has been wearing the Hitman's Hockey Team
jersey to some of his matches, a thing to come? If
Benoit don't get the TV Title the WCW will surely
direct him to the Cruiserweight Title, but this will
ruin his reputation.
At Spring Stampede, Benoit and Booker T clashed, of
course Booker nailed the referee with a kick, Benoit
then put on the Crippler CrossFace on Booker, but
since there were no referee, Benoit tried to get the
referee up, but Benoit got nailed with the Harlem
Sidekick for the win. Will Benoit ever win a title in
WCW?